Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Impaired Gi Motility

Narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents increase smooth muscle tone in the gastrointestinal tract and decrease peristalsis, which can lead to elevated intraluminal pressure, spasm, and constipation following prolonged use. In patients with severe or acute inflammatory bowel disease, the decrease in colonic motility may induce toxic megacolon. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously in patients with gastrointestinal obstruction, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, or recent gastrointestinal tract surgery. Gastrointestinal effects appear to be the most pronounced with morphine.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Infectious Diarrhea

Severe Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Infectious Diarrhea/Enterocolitis/Gastroenteritis

Narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents may prolong and/or worsen diarrhea associated with organisms that invade the intestinal mucosa, such as toxigenic E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and pseudomembranous colitis due to broad-spectrum antibiotics. These agents decrease gastrointestinal motility, which may delay the excretion of infective gastroenteric organisms and/or their toxins. Other symptoms and complications such as fever, shedding of organisms and extraintestinal illness may also be increased or prolonged. Therapy with opioids should be avoided or administered cautiously in patients with infectious diarrhea, particularly that due to pseudomembranous enterocolitis or enterotoxin-producing bacteria or if accompanied by high fever, pus, or blood in the stool.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Liver Disease

Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility

Applies to: Liver Disease

Narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents are extensively metabolized by the liver, and several of them (e.g., codeine, hydrocodone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, propoxyphene) have active metabolites that are further converted to inactive substances. The serum concentrations of these agents and their metabolites may be increased and the half-lives prolonged in patients with impaired hepatic function. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously and initiated at reduced dosages in patients with liver disease. Subsequent doses should be titrated based on individual response rather than a fixed dosing schedule.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Prematurity

Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility

Applies to: Prematurity/Underweight in Infancy

The use of narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents is contraindicated in premature infants. These agents may cross the immature blood-brain barrier to a greater extent than in adults, resulting in disproportionate respiratory depression.

References

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Renal Dysfunction

Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility

Applies to: Renal Dysfunction

Although narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents are generally metabolized by the liver, renal impairment can alter the elimination of these agents and their metabolites (some of which are pharmacologically active), resulting in drug accumulation and increased risk of toxicity. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously and initiated at reduced dosages in patients with significantly impaired renal function. Subsequent doses should be titrated based on individual response rather than a fixed dosing schedule.

Opiate Agonists (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Acute Alcohol Intoxication

Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility

Applies to: Acute Alcohol Intoxication

The use of opiate agonists is contraindicated in patients with acute alcohol intoxication exhibiting depressed vital signs. The central nervous system depressant effects of opiate agonists may be additive with those of alcohol. Severe respiratory depression and death may occur. Therapy with opiate agonists should be administered cautiously in patients who might be prone to acute alcohol intake.

Opiate Agonists (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Drug Dependence

Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility

Applies to: Alcoholism, Drug Abuse/Dependence

Opiate agonists have the potential to cause dependence and abuse. Tolerance as well as physical and psychological dependence can develop after prolonged use. Abrupt cessation, reduction in dosage, or administration of an opiate antagonist such as naloxone may precipitate withdrawal symptoms. In patients who have developed tolerance to an opiate agonist, overdosage can still produce respiratory depression and death, and cross-tolerance usually will occur with other agents in the class. Addiction-prone individuals, such as those with a history of alcohol or substance abuse, should be under careful surveillance or medical supervision when treated with opiate agonists. It may be prudent to refrain from dispensing large quantities of medication to these patients. After prolonged use or if dependency is suspected, withdrawal of opiate therapy should be undertaken gradually using a dosage-tapering schedule.

Opiate Agonists (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Hypotension

Severe Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Hypotension, Shock, Dehydration

Opiate agonists can induce vasodilation and significant hypotension, particularly when given in high dosages and/or by rapid intravenous administration. Shock and cardiac arrest have occurred. At therapeutic analgesic dosages, ambulatory patients are more likely to experience dizziness and hypotension than patients who are confined to bed. However, orthostatic hypotension may occur in supine patients upon rising. Therapy with opiate agonists should be administered cautiously and initiated at reduced dosages in patients with circulatory shock, hypovolemia, or a predisposition to hypotension. When given by intramuscular or subcutaneous administration, clinicians should also be aware that impaired perfusion in these patients may prevent complete absorption of the drug. With repeated injections, an excessive amount may be absorbed suddenly if normal circulation is reestablished.

Opiate Agonists (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Intracranial Pressure

The hypoventilation associated with administration of opiate agonists, particularly by the intravenous route, can induce cerebral hypoxia and vasodilatation with resultant increase in intracranial pressure. Unless mechanical ventilation is provided, extreme caution is advised when opiate agonists are given to patients with head injury, intracranial lesions, or a preexisting elevated CSF pressure. Also, clinicians treating such patients should be aware that opiate agonists may interfere with the evaluation of CNS function, especially with respect to consciousness levels, respiratory status, and pupillary changes.

Opiate Agonists (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Respiratory Depression

Opiate agonists may produce significant central nervous system and respiratory depression of varying duration, particularly when given in high dosages and/or by rapid intravenous administration. Apnea may result from decreased respiratory drive as well as increased airway resistance, and rigidity of respiratory muscles may occur during rapid IV administration or when these agents are used in the induction of anesthesia. At therapeutic analgesic dosages, the respiratory effects are usually not clinically important except in patients with preexisting pulmonary impairment. Therapy with opiate agonists should be avoided or administered with extreme caution and initiated at reduced dosages in patients with severe CNS depression; sleep apnea; hypoxia, anoxia, or hypercapnia; upper airway obstruction; chronic pulmonary insufficiency; a limited ventilatory reserve; or other respiratory disorders. In the presence of excessive respiratory secretions, the use of opiate agonists may also be problematic because they decrease ciliary activity and reduce the cough reflex. Caution is also advised in patients who may be at increased risk for respiratory depression, such as comatose patients or those with head injury, intracranial lesions, or intracranial hypertension. Clinical monitoring of pulmonary function is recommended, and equipment for resuscitation should be immediately available if parenteral or neuraxial routes are used. Naloxone may be administered to reverse clinically significant respiratory depression, which may be prolonged depending on the opioid agent, cumulative dose, and route of administration.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Adrenal Insufficiency

Moderate Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Adrenal Insufficiency

Patients with Addison's disease may have increased risk of respiratory depression and prolonged CNS depression associated with the use of narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents. Conversely, these agents may cause or potentiate adrenal insufficiency. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously and initiated at reduced dosages in patients with adrenocortical insufficiency. Subsequent doses should be titrated based on individual response rather than a fixed dosing schedule.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Biliary Spasm

Moderate Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Biliary Obstruction, Gallbladder Disease

Narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents increase smooth muscle tone in the biliary tract, which can lead to spasm and elevated biliary tract pressure, especially in the sphincter of Oddi. Biliary effects appear to be the most pronounced with morphine, although they do not always occur with therapeutic doses. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously in patients with biliary or gallbladder disease.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Hypothyroidism

Moderate Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Hypothyroidism, Panhypopituitarism

Patients with hypothyroidism may have increased risk of respiratory depression and prolonged CNS depression associated with the use of narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents. These agents may also exacerbate the effects of hypothyroidism such as lethargy, impaired mentation, depression, and constipation. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously and initiated at reduced dosages in patients with uncontrolled hypothyroidism or myxedema. Subsequent doses should be titrated based on individual response rather than a fixed dosing schedule.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Seizure Disorders

Moderate Potential Hazard, Low plausibility

Applies to: Seizures

Narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents may exacerbate seizures in patients with seizure disorders and, at higher dosages, have been reported to induce seizures in patients without previous history of seizures. The proconvulsant activity may be the greatest with meperidine, the active metabolite of which is thought to be responsible. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to seizures.

Narcotic Analgesics (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Urinary Retention

Moderate Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Urinary Retention

Narcotic (opioid) analgesic agents may inhibit the urinary voiding reflex and increase the tone of the vesical sphincter in the bladder. Acute urinary retention requiring catheterization may occur, particularly in patients with prostatic hypertrophy or urethral stricture and in elderly patients. These agents may also decrease urine production via direct effects on the kidney and central stimulation of the release of vasopressin. Therapy with opioids should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to urinary retention and/or oliguria. The effects on smooth muscle tone appear to be the most pronounced with morphine.

Opiate Agonists (Includes Glydeine) ↔ Arrhythmias

Moderate Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Arrhythmias

Opiate agonists have cholinergic activity. Large doses and/or rapid intravenous administration may produce bradycardia and arrhythmia via stimulation of medullary vagal nuclei. Unlike other agents in the class, meperidine also has anticholinergic activity and may cause either bradycardia or tachycardia. Therapy with opiate agonists should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of arrhythmias. Clinical monitoring of cardiovascular status is recommended during therapy. Bradycardia and other cholinergic effects produced by these agents may be controlled with atropine.

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